During the Shakespeare400 season, King’s launched a poetry competition for young writers inspired by Shakespeare’s sonnets. Entrants were asked to pick a sonnet by Shakespeare that inspires them, and write their own poem in response.

The competition, launched on 23rd April 2016, was judged by internationally-respected poets, Gillian Clarke and Kevin Crossley-Holland and was open to all state school and academy students in London, in years 10-13.

All shortlisted poets were invited to attend a celebratory
event in central London in Autumn 2016, where prizes were awarded and the
students were given the opportunity to read their poems aloud. They received a copy of On Shakespeare’s Sonnets, a new anthology of sonnet-inspired poetry by celebrated British poets edited by King's academics.

early august morning and we wade into the dark
pacific, fingers trailing on cold light that slices against
our stomachs like a child’s hands. we notice how quick
the sea forgives, tongues salt on hollowed hearts in Read more...

Rugged petals. Dry and papery.
Pressed as flat, as palms on glass.
Preserved between the pages,
the creases and crevices etched
in the yellowing parchment
of her memory.
‘Fresh’ she declares. ‘as the day first picked.’
Ambling through fields. With fingers threaded,
through the tender hand of her sister. Read more...

A poem inspired by sonnet 116 by Shakespeare
“Love is not love”
For I cannot seem to comprehend, nor want to try
To understand how awkward men live and die
Bound by a force so vile, by a force so weak
Tremors ache in the heart while grown men weep Read more...

I’m not going to sugar coat this
Or woo you with false compliments in hope of a kiss
Your eyes my mistress, haven’t the slightest similarity to the sun
Corals are a long way from your lips, ask anyone
The snow makes your breasts appear a brownish gray
Unfortunately I can’t compare thee to a summer’s day
I could say your hair resembles gold
But the image of black wires seems more fitting
Would you rather I continued or withhold? Read more...